The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-27
WILL NOT JOIN THE STRIKE
Many of the Street-Car Company's EN-
ployes DisObey the X. of L. Order.
The Executive Committee Threatens to Boy
colt the Company if Necessary to Bring 1t
to Terms-Movements on Both Sides.


Citizens Streetrailway Company to identify
themselves with the striking drivers cause did
pot meet the expectations of those concerned.
From the beginning there has been great diff
Guilty in rsuading the drivers at the West
street stables to join the strike. Their argument
was that, while the drivers no doubt had griev
ances and ought to have the increase of
two cents hour. they would not
go out unless the district assembly
ordered it. '.The strike of many who not
knights and few who are is on" they said ''but
do not know how the order can, according to
its rules. presidents and laws. now assume
charge of it. Had the Knights first carried
their grievances to their local assembly, and
then waited the usual custom of arbitration by
that organization, or, that failing, arbitra-
ton through the executive board, the
etrke could have been legally ordered 1t came
upon US without any such rules being followed,
and now. when they have in measure
been disregarded we do not intend to obey" The
strikers did not have their affairs we'll in hand at
the outset, and the purpose to bring the Knights
of Labor as organization. to its support,
not unanimously sustained by the executive
board until, it is claimed, E. F. Gould and one
Or others virtually forced the ordering out
of the men, in spite of the irregularities which
others of the board said stood in the way.
There are some Knights VINO maintain that the
time for a strike even had it been pursued with
put question as to its legality, not favor
able. There are men out Of work." one re-
marked last night, who are glad of the chance
TO get drivers position at fourteen cents an
hour. Had been with the board in considering
the matter would have advised a compromise"
But those who support the strike say there is no
room for com promise on difference of only two
cents ''The men entitled TO that two cents"
a knight said, ''and will have It. Colonel
johnson will be harrassed by all legitimate
means that are in our power. We will apply the
boycott as the last resort"
only five men. ycu Jay. came out under the
order of the executive card. What is the mat
terri
s'Simply this; two orders calling out the men
were signed and sealed with the seal of the dis
trict assembly. One was given to the master
workman of the Henry George Assembly and the
other 10 that officer of Willetts Assembly. The
latter. instead of reading the original order to
the men, copied 1t. The copy did not bear the
seal, and the men refused to come out until the
order was made officially binding by the SEAL
Another order will be issued"
"Will that effect anything, since the men have
refused to obey what they no doubt know was a
genuine orderP
az don't know The great trouble with all
strikes is that we have to fight money. Col.
johnson says he will spend $4,000 before he
will yield. He will have chance to do it.
think. He had to pay certain drivers three.
Robert johnson went to the Weststreet
stables the other day and gave
one man 500 before he could persuade HIM to
drive This policy will be continued by the
company until all the have drivers When
affairs apparently running smoothly again
the old schedule Of wages will be restored. The
Colonel says he cannot afford to pay increase
Of two cents an hour, but he give Temporal
rily very high wages to men who would other
wise strike. 1t is money have to battle
against and Colonel johnson has it. It is very
hard to get the men to join strike after it has
gone this far without any appreciable success"
eff the men still refuse to come out. what will
you dot"
"The men who out will remain until the
increase is granted We 10 not propose to have
any more Conferences Colonel Johnson must
bear the responsibility of his own losses But
let me tell you mis- trouble has only begun. We
have not used our last power by any means.
When we do it will mean business. But before
that is to be undertaken, the Council is to be pc
titloned 70 have Colonel johnson manage and
EQUIP the line in compliance with the charter.
The Council will be urged to make him put on
frst-class with conductors But on the
question OF conductors the strikers themselves
are not unanimous. Some wish them, others do
not. However. the latter are not strongly OPP
posed to this needed reform, but the putting on
of conductors will not change the demand for the
two cents increase
The strikers are firm. but not aggressive,
unless it is through their committees to induce
the to quit work. Since the first day or
two of the strike the company admits that the
strikers have in no instance attempted to use
fails on individuals the committees to patrol the
streets and that drivers call the names of
streets take up the work. SO far there have
been no arrests, although the order is either
violated outrigh. by some the wrong names
given to streets. Other drivers, it is charged,
ireat the matter as joke and facetiously call a
street by punning horribly on its name.
The strike has favored the police SO far as to
give them free rides. Heretofore the police had
to pay. like any other passenger "They were
once allowed to ride free" said company's Off
GER .but they got in the habit of patroling their
beats on the cars" Since the strike began they
have the deadhead privilege granted them, and
it Is likely it will continue after the troubles
settled. A few months ago Mayor Denny
quested Colonel johnson, on instructions from
the Council TO pass the police. but the request
was refused. When the managing board OF the
company meets in July, the matter will proba-
bly, be acted on in giving policemen the right to
free rides their displaying their badges.
The five men who obeyed the district assem-
bly's order yesterday stablemen, but the
drivers at the Weststreet and Louisiana-street
stables said they would continue work for the
present. The spirit of this consent to remain
was expressed by one of the Knights who said,
~ am willing to be ordered out but will not
be bluffed out" Another, road officer, to
whom the order was presented, remarked that
he preferred to remain at work. In the mean
time the company says it experienced but little
inconvenience in getting out its cars The
travel yesterday was large, and the com
MI lines on schedule time. New drivers are be-
Ing trained, while the companys officers claim
that OF the strikers nave app1eU TOT cars
and been given places when it could be done
without sacrificing the new drivers. The ex-
pressmen are to be put into the service of the
strikers who propose to run wagons. beginning
to-day, along all the important lines of the com
pany The wagons will run at intervals of
half hour, and the fare will be cents. For
several days workmen at the stockyards have
been accommodated in this way by the
strikers, and yesterday the employees at the
malleable iron works requested that wagons be
provided for them, morning and evening Other
evidence of the interest of the people in the
strikers cause was shown by liberal contribu-
lions TO the fund soliciting committees gath
Bring. The situation will probably remain it
Is for several days. for the knights who remain
at work say they will not out until the ques-
ton of the legality of the strike has been acted
on by the national executive board The case is
being prepared for it, Willetts Assembly initi-
nted many Of the strikers last night.